The National tribune., 1887-09-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ATLANTA.
The Battle OF JnIy % as Seen by an sist Ohio
COmrade.

00nrnues
EprToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: j would like
90 tell what came under my observation in the
battle near Atlanta July %, 1864. On the
morning of the 2lst the Army oil the Tennessee
moved from Decatur, The Sixteenth Corps on
the right OF the railroad and the Fifteenth and
Seventeenth Corps on the left, heng the left
flank Of Sherman's army. As they advanced
the lines contracted, until in the evening the
Sixteenth Corps was thrown out Of place. j
was on the skirmish-line. which was relieved
by the Fifteenth Corps skirmisheIs after dark.
On the morning OF the 22d the Sixteenth Corps
was ordered TO form on the left Of the Seven
teenth, and fOrtfy as soon as the Seventeenth
Corps established It's lines. The Second Diyis-
ION, Sixteenth Corps moved at about 3 a. m
o mile TO the rear, and near the Seventeenth
Corps center halted, waiting for the Seven
teenth Corps to get in permanent position.
Near noon some stray shots were heard far
ther 10 the rear. As we lay In suspense the firing
Increased, and the interchangeable Dodge appear
ed at the head of the Second Division, ordered
&c i'm line OF battle facing the rear, aud advanc-
ed to a little ridge that ran parallel with orr
lines. Here on this ridge, in line with the
Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth
Corps, Lieut.. BlOdgett's battery, LIST No. Art.
and Lieut. Laird's battery, l4th Ohio were
posted. Gen Fuller with part of his Fourth
Division, formed on our right. Hardly was this
completed when the enemy emerged rom
thick forest in our front in full view. We saw
their strength was not 10 be despised. The
order WAS given 10 fix bayOnets aud lac down.
The officers had quite task TO keep the boys
down, as they were anxious TO see the enemy
advance.
On they came while our batteries belched
forth heavy charges of case aud canister that
made gaps i'm the rebel lines, which closed up
after each shot was fred. They advanced
with great discrimination and rashness until
within a short distance of the batteries, when
our line rose as one man and poured such a
volley of musketry ia their faces at short range
that they halted and wavered. Just then our
troops raised yell, rushed forward, and drove
the enemy from the field in great disorder,
capturing prisoners representing 49 different
regiments in front of these three brigades
also capturing large number Of small arms
and flags The regiment TO which j belonged
captured three rebel flags in this charge. After
driving the enemy from our front we straight
ened the lines and began 10 throw up a line of
earthw0rks About this time the beloved Nc
Pherson fell, pierced with a rebel bullet, and
the gallant Logan took command of the Army
of the Tennessee
About p. IN. a heavy column assaulted the
Fifteenth Corps, rushing through n railroad
cut and pouring ia such thanking fire that the
Fifteenth had TO fall hack. Gen. Logan called
on Gen. Dodge for a brigade TO help retake the
lost works of the Fifteenth Corps. The Second
Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Corps, was
chosen. The distance was about two miles.
The brigade moved at a dOUble-Quick most of
the way, until il reached the railroad Here il
halted, as the enemy had artillery 10 command
the railroad. The brigade was ordered to cross
by companies or run the gantlet" as the BOYS
termed il. As my company crossed, the horse
of Col. Mercer, commanding the brigade. was
shot. The horse fell on a fence and caught the
COOnels leg under him. The writer helped
the Colonel TO regain has feet, but he could not
stand. On being asked il he was wounded he
replied, "Shust shot in dc leg leedle" He
was German.
Col Mercer called for Lieut. Col Adams, who
soon came, and Col. Mercer turned the brigade
over TO him with orders 10 halt when the rear
got across the railroad, form in line, climb over
board fence that ran parallel with the wagon
road, and move forward at a double-quick,
every man 10 yell $50 loud what he can" The
brigade was formed with the 18th Ill on the
left, then the sist Ohio and the Goth III. to the
right Of the slst. As the order was given
Forward-Double.qu iclS! :" the boys started
with wild yells that would have given credit
20 a whole tribe of Comanche Indians.
As the line advanced through thick woods
Il became broken. We had not gone far
until we came Ia sight OF line Of works, and
TO our surprise these works were occupied by
the enemy, with four brass cannon pointing at
ne and deiying our farther advance. We
rushed for the bright guns, and they proved 10
be the celebrated DE Gress battery. The first
man at the guns was Mason II. Blizzard, Of Co.
i, Slst Ohio. Capt. DE Gress soon appeared,
and with detail of the Slst Ohio turned the
guns on the retreating enemy. So jealous were
the men IN thiswork that one Of the guns burst
from its heavy charge.
After this occurred i returned 10 my COM
pany, which was a few rods TO the left of the
battery. As there is such q controversy over
who captured DE Gress's battery, the writer
does not wish 10 reopen the dispute, and will
only state the position of the troops, beginning
NJ the railroad 18th H., next Slst Ohio, then
the Goth jill. These three regiments were COM
manded by Lieut.-Col. Adams About 10
O'Clock that night the brigade was ordered 20
reinforce the Seventeenth Corps. ] do not
know what troops relieved us, as il was dark
when we moved. The next morning we saw
that part Of the Seventeenth Corps had Jared
still worse than we did. The dead and wounded
lay on both sides OF their works and the blue
and the gray lay side by side. ] helped to bury
the dead, aud there were good many.-THos.
J. SHELLEY, Co. ID, slst Ohio, Dawn. o.